vs

Side-by-side financial comparison of Knowles Corp (KN) and PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO (PLPC). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($173.1M vs $153.1M, roughly 1.1× Knowles Corp). Knowles Corp runs the higher net margin — 6.3% vs 4.9%, a 1.5% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Knowles Corp posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (22.7% vs 3.6%). PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO produced more free cash flow last quarter ($11.8M vs $-3.1M). Over the past eight quarters, PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO's revenue compounded faster (10.8% CAGR vs -13.5%).

Knowles Corporation is a global leading designer and manufacturer of advanced micro-acoustic, audio processing, and precision component solutions. It serves core segments including consumer electronics, automotive, medical technology, and industrial markets, offering products such as MEMS microphones, hearing aid components, and edge audio processing ICs to worldwide clients.

Preformed Line Products Co (PLPC) designs, manufactures and supplies engineered hardware for power transmission, telecommunications, and renewable energy infrastructure sectors. It serves utility, network operator and industrial customers across global regions, offering solutions that boost network reliability and operational efficiency.

KN vs PLPC — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
PLPC
PLPC
1.1× larger
PLPC
$173.1M
$153.1M
KN
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
KN
KN
+19.1% gap
KN
22.7%
3.6%
PLPC
Higher net margin
KN
KN
1.5% more per $
KN
6.3%
4.9%
PLPC
More free cash flow
PLPC
PLPC
$14.9M more FCF
PLPC
$11.8M
$-3.1M
KN
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
PLPC
PLPC
Annualised
PLPC
10.8%
-13.5%
KN

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Revenue
$153.1M
$173.1M
Net Profit
$9.7M
$8.4M
Gross Margin
43.8%
29.8%
Operating Margin
10.4%
6.8%
Net Margin
6.3%
4.9%
Revenue YoY
22.7%
3.6%
Net Profit YoY
585.0%
-19.3%
EPS (diluted)
$0.13
$1.72

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$153.1M
Q4 25
$162.2M
$173.1M
Q3 25
$152.9M
$178.1M
Q2 25
$145.9M
$169.6M
Q1 25
$132.2M
$148.5M
Q4 24
$142.5M
$167.1M
Q3 24
$142.5M
$147.0M
Q2 24
$204.7M
$138.7M
Net Profit
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$9.7M
Q4 25
$21.0M
$8.4M
Q3 25
$17.4M
$2.6M
Q2 25
$7.8M
$12.7M
Q1 25
$-2.0M
$11.5M
Q4 24
$18.5M
$10.5M
Q3 24
$500.0K
$7.7M
Q2 24
$-259.3M
$9.4M
Gross Margin
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
43.8%
Q4 25
44.7%
29.8%
Q3 25
45.7%
29.7%
Q2 25
41.5%
32.7%
Q1 25
40.3%
32.8%
Q4 24
42.7%
33.3%
Q3 24
44.1%
31.1%
Q2 24
28.2%
31.9%
Operating Margin
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
10.4%
Q4 25
15.9%
6.8%
Q3 25
16.9%
7.4%
Q2 25
10.1%
10.1%
Q1 25
3.0%
8.8%
Q4 24
10.8%
10.5%
Q3 24
13.1%
7.1%
Q2 24
6.2%
8.1%
Net Margin
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
6.3%
Q4 25
12.9%
4.9%
Q3 25
11.4%
1.5%
Q2 25
5.3%
7.5%
Q1 25
-1.5%
7.8%
Q4 24
13.0%
6.3%
Q3 24
0.4%
5.2%
Q2 24
-126.7%
6.8%
EPS (diluted)
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$0.13
Q4 25
$0.23
$1.72
Q3 25
$0.20
$0.53
Q2 25
$0.09
$2.56
Q1 25
$-0.02
$2.33
Q4 24
$0.20
$2.13
Q3 24
$0.01
$1.54
Q2 24
$-2.88
$1.89

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$41.0M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$131.0M
$38.3M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$780.2M
$475.5M
Total Assets
$1.1B
$653.6M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.17×
0.08×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$41.0M
Q4 25
$54.2M
Q3 25
$92.5M
Q2 25
$103.2M
Q1 25
$101.9M
Q4 24
$130.1M
Q3 24
$92.6M
Q2 24
$84.0M
Total Debt
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$131.0M
Q4 25
$114.0M
$38.3M
Q3 25
$176.3M
$36.0M
Q2 25
$190.0M
$31.8M
Q1 25
$188.8M
$29.1M
Q4 24
$202.5M
$20.8M
Q3 24
$225.0M
$27.2M
Q2 24
$261.2M
$31.6M
Stockholders' Equity
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$780.2M
Q4 25
$775.8M
$475.5M
Q3 25
$751.8M
$466.3M
Q2 25
$746.1M
$460.7M
Q1 25
$755.8M
$435.8M
Q4 24
$756.0M
$422.3M
Q3 24
$777.4M
$429.0M
Q2 24
$753.0M
$416.2M
Total Assets
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$1.1B
Q4 25
$1.1B
$653.6M
Q3 25
$1.1B
$644.6M
Q2 25
$1.1B
$631.5M
Q1 25
$1.1B
$592.5M
Q4 24
$1.1B
$573.9M
Q3 24
$1.2B
$592.0M
Q2 24
$1.2B
$572.6M
Debt / Equity
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
0.17×
Q4 25
0.15×
0.08×
Q3 25
0.23×
0.08×
Q2 25
0.25×
0.07×
Q1 25
0.25×
0.07×
Q4 24
0.27×
0.05×
Q3 24
0.29×
0.06×
Q2 24
0.35×
0.08×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$0
$21.9M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$-3.1M
$11.8M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
-2.0%
6.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
7.1%
5.9%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
0.00×
2.60×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$33.3M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$0
Q4 25
$21.9M
Q3 25
$29.1M
$18.9M
Q2 25
$36.4M
$26.9M
Q1 25
$1.3M
$5.7M
Q4 24
$24.1M
Q3 24
$52.8M
$9.4M
Q2 24
$24.9M
$28.3M
Free Cash Flow
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
$-3.1M
Q4 25
$11.8M
Q3 25
$21.4M
$8.3M
Q2 25
$31.3M
$18.6M
Q1 25
$-2.7M
$-5.3M
Q4 24
$20.6M
Q3 24
$49.1M
$5.8M
Q2 24
$21.7M
$24.6M
FCF Margin
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
-2.0%
Q4 25
6.8%
Q3 25
14.0%
4.7%
Q2 25
21.5%
10.9%
Q1 25
-2.0%
-3.6%
Q4 24
12.3%
Q3 24
34.5%
3.9%
Q2 24
10.6%
17.7%
Capex Intensity
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
7.1%
Q4 25
9.4%
5.9%
Q3 25
5.0%
6.0%
Q2 25
3.5%
4.9%
Q1 25
3.0%
7.4%
Q4 24
2.3%
2.1%
Q3 24
2.6%
2.4%
Q2 24
1.6%
2.7%
Cash Conversion
KN
KN
PLPC
PLPC
Q1 26
0.00×
Q4 25
2.60×
Q3 25
1.67×
7.21×
Q2 25
4.67×
2.12×
Q1 25
0.49×
Q4 24
2.30×
Q3 24
105.60×
1.22×
Q2 24
3.02×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Related Comparisons